Sanding Vlies (496510) & polishing vlies (496511)

[mouppe]

I recently got hold of some Vlies abrasive pads from the UK and thought I would write a short review on their use as they are currently NAINA and you don't hear much about them. However, since the Surfix oil applicator was introduced in the rest of the world- and it may make its way over here at some point- presumably these pads which are used in conjunction with finishing an oiled surface may make their way here too?

The Vlies abrasives are available in NA in various grits, but these Vlies pads are different. The green Vlies sanding pad is similar to a Scotch pad and is used to work the oil into the wood. You then follow up with a white polishing Vlies pad to matt the surface, similar to using steel wool.  

My workbench needed refinishing which is the perfect project to experiment with these pads.

The workbench before any surface prep. Lots of spills, stains, knife marks, gouges etc.

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Using the Rotex 125 in aggressive mode, I sanded the surface with Rubin 100, 120 and 180.
25 minutes later...

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Then I switched to the ETS 125 (random orbit sander) and used Brilliant 2 220 and 320.
11 minutes later...

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Now it was time for the green Vlies sanding pad. I used it on the ETS 125 just because it is more comfortable than the Rotex, but you could use the Rotex too. I gave a generous coat of Danish oil to the entire surface, let it soak in for a couple of minutes, wiped off the excess with a clean cotton cloth, then worked the oil into the surface on speed setting 3-4 with the ETS 125.

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10 minutes later, the surface was really nice and oily smooth. I have to let the finish cure overnight then I will return with the white Vlies and another oil coat.

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So far I like this product very much. It takes a lot of the mess out of oil finishes. The pads are not cheap at around $3 each, but it would seem they last a long time. (I actually threw the pad away because I don't like to leave oily pads in the workshop, but it certainly had a lot more life in it.)

 

[GhostFist]

Almost afraid to work on a bench like that. looks lovely.

 

[Timtool]

my surfix came with a nice user manual that explains the steps to follow

-sand to 180 grit
-apply oil
-wait 10-15 minutes and wipe of excess
-sand with vlies green
-8 or so hours later sand with 220 or 320 grit
-apply oil
-wait 10-15min wipe off excess
-polish with vlies white

a problem i found with the vlies green pad especially is that it sticks too hard to the stick fix pad, and it's hard to remove it without damaging or tearing the stick fix sheet from the vlies off.
took mine off 3 times and the stick fix sheet is ruined, it's annoying because the abrasive is not worn out at all.
maybe using the interface pad 496647 helps?

 

[mouppe]

Interesting, mine came off with no problems, and it is the second vlies pad I have used.

Here is a user guide from Festool Australia. Obviously you have to adjust things slightly to account for the specific oil you are using but I found it useful all the same.

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[Timtool]

do you mean you use the vlies pads for one use only? i used the same pad 3 times, and at the second removal it started coming lose partly so i proceeded carefully, and at the third it was half lose. possibly does the oil attack the adhesive? also note that my ETS 150 is just a few months old and the stick fix still hold incredibly strong. and the vlies green is basically just a course sponge with a stick fix sheet glued to it, theres not much contact area and the stick fix sheet will rather hang onto the sander pad than to the sponge.

 

[peter halle]

The PDF that Richard posted shows using a different backing pad (a polishing pad).  Is the "velcro" or hook and loop different?

Peter

 

[mouppe]

Ok, I am totally sold! I went back to the workshop today after the first coat of oil had cured, and laid down a second, thinner coat, let it soak in for a couple of minutes and then used the white polishing vlies pad to polish the surface. The result is really excellent- even, smooth, and not at all blotchy. I am very happy with the pads. I will re-use the white pad for perhaps a final coat.

The pads are supposed to be washable, but I don't think I will bother. If I was finishing the project over a period of days or a week, I would re-use the pad but since I have nothing to finish in the near term, the pad will probably just putrify and harden.

It has taken me less than an hour to refinish my workbench and I probably will not need to do it again for another year. It's so easy to do I have no problem completely messing it up again, so in answer to Ghostfish I am definitely not afraid to work my bench very hard!

Tim, I think you are right about the oil affecting the adhesive. My pad did not stay on the sander long enough for this to happen, but it came off very easily. My ETS 125 is also quite new. Yes, I used the green pad for one use only- I have nothing else to use it for at the moment and it will just go rotten.

Peter, I am not sure what you referring to. I used the green and white vlies sanding pads. I have the green polishing fastfix pad (492128) for my Rotex 125 as well but I did not use it yet. I intend to use that with a white vlies pad for the final coat, but there is no similar polishing pad available for the ETS 125.

Here is a link to another Festool brochure from the UK this time. Page 15 is the relevant page.

http://www.festool.co.uk/Service/Downloads/Documents/brochure_wood.pdf

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